2014 Hall of Fame

2014 National Hall of Fame

1. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez(D-IL)

Called the “leading congressional advocate” on immigration reform and a harsh critic of deportations, Rep. Gutiérrez has fought tirelessly to pass reform. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, he worked to draft bipartisan bills that would fix our broken system.

2. Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO)

As one of Immigrants’ List’s 2014 endorsed candidates, Senator Udall (D-CO) has led efforts in pressuring the House to act on immigration reform. He called the Gang of Eight’s comprehensive immigration bill in 2013 the “most important vote” he had ever cast and urged President Obama to halt the deportation of immigrants “whose only crime is seeking a better life for themselves.”

3. Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)

Rep. Cárdenas (D-CA) has continuously fought to bring immigration reform to a vote in the House. He forced four debate and majority-rules votes on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill.

4. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)

Working to pass comprehensive immigration reform for many years, Rep. Diaz-Balart (R-FL) has worked with both sides of the aisle to craft bipartisan legislation. He has criticized both Democratic and Republican leadership for failing to act on reform.

5. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Leahy (D-VT) has fought to push immigration reform in the Senate. He introduced the Refugee Protection Act and was called the ninth member of the “Gang of Eight” for his role in advancing their bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2013. Leahy led the effort to push this bill through the Judiciary Committee as well as the Senate.

6. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA)

As one of the first House Republicans to publicly fight for immigration reform and the son of two immigrants, Rep. Valadao (R-CA) has blazed the trail for support for reform within the Republican Party. Upon his arrival in Congress in 2013, he immediately reached out to House members working on immigration and expressed his interest in working to pass comprehensive reform.

7. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

With an immigrant mother who did not be come a citizen until her 50s, the need for immigration reform is personal for Rep. Duckworth (D-IL). Duckworth believes that immigration reform is one of the most important issues facing our country that must be addressed and has fought to bring it to a vote in the House, and is also one of Immigrants’ Lists 2014 endorsed candidates.

8. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)

Calling immigration reform “one of the most pressing civil rights issues of the modern era,” Rep. Lewis (D-GA) has consistently pushed for immigration reform in the House. He was one of the members arrested last year during a protest advocating for immigration reform in front of the Capitol.

9. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

As the author of the DREAM Act, Senator Durbin (D-IL) has consistently stood up for immigration reform and urged his colleagues to do the same. As a member of the Gang of Eight in 2013, he worked to ensure the passage of comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate. He continues to be a leading advocate for reform.

10. Rep. Joe Garcia (D-FL)

Calling House members who had voted against immigration reform “un-American,” Rep. Garcia (D-FL) was the chief sponsor of the House’s comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2013. He has also participated in Fast4Families and was this year’s Maggio Award recipient. Garcia is a true advocate for immigrants’ rights.